Harriet Phipps
English courtier (1841–1922)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hon. Harriet Lepel Phipps, VA (22 January 1841 – 7 March 1922) was an English courtier who served as a confidential attendant of Queen Victoria.
Harriet Lepel Phipps | |
|---|---|
Harriet Lepel Phipps photography by Camille Silvy | |
| Born | 22 January 1841 |
| Died | 7 March 1922 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | courtier |
| Father | Charles Beaumont Phipps |
| Awards | Royal Order of Victoria and Albert |
Family
Phipps was born in 1841.[1] She was the youngest daughter of Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps, a courtier, confidant of the Queen, and Keeper of the Privy Purse.[2]
Career
Phipps was appointed Maid of Honour in Ordinary to the Queen on 3 March 1862 (giving her the courtesy rank of a baron's daughter),[3] and later served as a Woman of the Bedchamber from 1889[1] until Victoria's death. She often accompanied the queen during visits, including the April 1900 visit to Ireland.[4]
Phipps was used by the Queen to carry out confidential errands, and had access to many secrets, which she faithfully kept. Her papers were destroyed upon her death.[5] She was decorated with the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, 4th class.
Marie Mallet, a fellow lady of the bedchamber, found Phipps as a messenger of instructions from Victoria "the embodiment of early Victorian traditions, discreet almost to a fault, full of little mysteries,"[1] but also described her as "gay and excellent company and always warm-hearted".[6]
Her 1889 portrait, by John Lavery, is now in the collection of the Glasgow Museums.[7]
Cultural depictions
Phipps was portrayed by Fenella Woolgar in the 2017 film Victoria & Abdul.[8]